Kent Ha
- Kent Ha was laid off by Intel in July after five years with the company.
- He said he sensed that a layoff could be coming, so he began looking for a new job.
- It was his third layoff in the past decade, and he’s struggling to find work.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kent Ha, a 37-year-old job seeker in Portland, Oregon, who previously worked as a digital marketing strategist at Intel. He holds a bachelor’s degree in new media communications from Oregon State University and an MBA from George Fox University with a concentration in leadership and management. He’s looking for product marketing and digital experience roles. Business Insider has verified Ha’s past employment with documentation. It has been edited for length and clarity.
On July 9, I learned I’d been laid off by Intel. While I enjoyed my five years at the company, I didn’t have the reaction some people describe — getting the news, breaking down, and cycling through emotions.
Part of the reason is that I saw the layoff coming. In recent years, Intel has conducted thousands of layoffs, which made many of us worried about our job security. When our CEO left the company last December, we were worried that more cuts could be coming.
My role fell under the company’s sales and marketing group. In the months leading up to July, Intel had taken steps to outsource some of my team’s work to another company. That made it seem even more likely that our group would be hit.
The other reason the layoff news didn’t affect me too much was that I’d already been laid off twice by other companies since 2015 — once during a restructuring and again during the pandemic.
By the time it happened a third time, my mindset had already shifted. I’d seen it coming, I knew what it was like to lose a job, and I was already looking for my next role.
I tried to prepare before the layoff came
Before I was laid off, I’d started focusing on building my skills in hopes of reducing the chances I’d be let go. But at the same time, I began monitoring the job market to assess the types of roles available. As the company’s outlook worsened, I began browsing roles more actively, and it became clear that finding a new job could be challenging.
By June, I believed there was a decent chance I’d be let go in the coming months, so I took two steps to prepare.
The first was reaching out to my financial advisor. I told them a layoff seemed likely and that the job market looked tough. They advised me not to overreact to something that hadn’t happened yet, but said that if I was let go, I should file for unemployment — and that my wife and I should cut back spending on things like eating out and vacations.
The second step I took to prepare for the layoff was to start applying for jobs. I figured worst case, I’d land another offer and have a backup plan. Best case, I’d keep my job and wouldn’t have to make any changes. It was a contingency plan — that’s how I thought about it.
Past layoff experiences shaped how I approached this one
As I began searching for jobs, with a focus on product marketing and digital experience positions, I found myself reflecting on the two previous times I’d been laid off.
In 2015, I moved from Portland, Oregon, to San Diego for a new role. Six months later, I was let go due to company restructuring. After that layoff, it took me about two and a half months to secure my next role, a three-month contract position. Knowing there wouldn’t be a chance for an extension, I kept searching — and was able to find a full-time job that started shortly after the contract ended.
In 2020, I was working at a home improvement company that focused on in-home services. When the pandemic hit, those services came to a halt. To cut costs, the company laid off workers — and I was among them. I was fortunate to land a content manager contract role at Intel in less than a month. That role eventually led to a promotion into a full-time digital marketing strategist position, which I held until I was laid off this year.
In both 2015 and 2020, I cold-applied to jobs — but what actually worked was posting my résumé on sites like Indeed, CareerBuilder, and Monster. Staffing agencies would reach out, which led to interviews.
This job search has been especially tough
Compared to my prior layoffs, this job search has been particularly challenging.
I’m not having as much luck with those job boards, and when I do hear back, it’s usually for entry-level roles. There also seems to be an increase in scams — for example, I recently got an email where the subject line said Audi was hiring, but the body of the message referenced the Marriott Hotel.
My other strategies have included updating my résumé — with help from ChatGPT — to ensure it reflects the skill sets needed for the roles I’m targeting. I also strengthened my personal website, hoping to showcase my capabilities to potential employers.
I’ve also reached out to my network to let them know I’m looking for work. I was fortunate to be part of a supportive team at Intel, and even now, many of us continue to share job leads and support each other. That’s helped quite a bit.
While these strategies have helped me get some interviews, I’m still struggling to land a job. The search has been an emotional roller coaster because there are roles that seem like a perfect fit, and then they go nowhere. I’ve been fortunate enough to secure some interviews, but it’s really difficult to prepare for them and convey the right information within a short timeframe.
How I’m staying grounded
As I go through my job search, I’m very grateful to my wife, who listens to me talk about companies day in and day out. Knowing how stressful it is for me, she’s made us go on nightly walks to decompress. It’s also been extremely helpful to have her income coming in — she works in the healthcare industry.
I have a few pieces of advice for others who have been laid off:
The first is related to your mindset. My first layoff in 2015 hit me hard — I’d just moved to California for the role, and six months later, I lost it. Over time, I realized it wasn’t personal. Companies evolve, and so must you. That perspective helped me stay grounded during later layoffs, including this one.
Second, find ways to grow. I noticed that one role I was interested in preferred a certified Scrum Product Owner certification, which I was already planning to pursue, so I took the course. I’m now planning to explore AI courses as well to stay current and competitive.
And finally: Take a breath. As hard as this is, it might be the only time in your career when you can pause. I remind myself it’s a marathon. Having a routine, staying sharp, and preparing for the next opportunity — that’s what keeps me going.
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